Sermon for 01/27/08

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Sermon for 01/27/08
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GRACISM: I Will Lift You Up,

Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, AMEN

Bottom Line: When people deal with color, class, or culture in a negative way, that’s racism. But the answer is not to ignore differences as if they don’t matter. This sermon is the 2nd in a series on how to we can focus on diversity in a positive way, as an opportunity to show God’s favor to others! That’s GRACISM! Today we talk about Paul’s analogy of the human body in 1^st Cor. 12. Paul interjected race, culture, and class into the discussion for a reason; the body is not made up of one culture but many! And they all matter! A Gracist recognizes the beauty of diversity. We also start today the discussion of the 7 sayings (characteristics) of a Gracist starting with “Special Honor” – lifting up the humble among us. A Gracist says “I will lift you up!” (Primary source: “Gracism – The Art of Inclusion” by David A. Anderson) Praise God AMEN

1) GRACISM REVIEW! Last week we concluded that in Heaven, there will be people from all nations gathered in one place! ...because God loves diversity and is 100% inclusive! And because God’s salvation is meant for all people, this should compel us (His church) to want to be more inclusive, ...more Christ-like. It doesn’t matter if another person is different from us because of weight, gender, age, race, or any other distinctive characteristic – God’s people were instructed to be “a light to the nations...” (Isaiah 42:6-7) This multicultural mission began with Abraham who was told "...and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." Our God ...is a multicultural God! His mission ...is a multicultural mission. Anything that gets in the way of being inclusive (like racism) is a sin! Racism was defined as speaking, acting, or thinking negatively about someone else solely based on their color, class, or culture. But Gracism is the positive extension of favor on other human beings based on color, class, and culture. Gracists understand the Apostle Paul’s loving and gracious instructions - “let us do good to all people...” (Galatians 6:10) That’s not all the Apostle Paul said!

2) THE ONE BODY! How many of you remember bumping into the Paul’s analogy of the “human body” to illustrate an earlier point about differences regarding spiritual gifts? It went like this; (1^st Corinthian 12:12) “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.” But then Paul does something I hadn’t focused on before, he interjects race, culture, and class into the discussion. “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body— whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free— and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” (vs 13) Here Paul intentionally leads us through a transition, and is telling us how to view the rest of the passage; through the lens of race, culture, and class.

3) RACE/CULTURE/CLASS! Let’s read the rest, this time observing it through the inclusive lens of race, culture, and class. “Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’, it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body’, it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

The eye cannot say to the hand, I don't need you! And the head cannot say to the feet, I don't need you! On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (1^st Corinthians 12:14-27)

4) ALL INCLUSIVE! When we begin to read that passage through the lens of race, culture, and class, it is not only powerful, but it has a clearer meaning. When you see the body of Christ as being inclusive of “all people” – it means that racism, ageism, sexism, and all the other “isms” that segregate, ignore, persecute, or put down God’s children, is directly in opposition to the will of God! In fact, it says that any part of the body, any person or group of people who may feel, look, or truly be “unpresentable” or “weaker” must be handled, and even honored, differently! No one should be “on the fringes” of society without others reaching out to include them! ...whether black or white, Jewish or Arab, Hmong or Laotian, rich or poor, male or female, gay or straight! ...whether free or prisoner, child or elderly, healthy or handicapped, brilliant or illiterate! ...whether supermodel or overweight, English speaking or foreign tongue, round eyes or slanted, successful or homeless, married or single, - these differences do not make us any less a part of the body of Christ! Because the Body of Christ is all inclusive of all people!

5) NEED YOU?! What does this mean in practical applications? It means neither the black or the white church can say “I do not belong to the body because my skin is different!” Though there may be many parts and many cultures, we are one body! It means the Cuban church cannot say to the Haitian church, “I don’t need you!” The Puerto Rican church cannot say to the Mexican church “I don’t need you!” The Pakistanis cannot say to the Persians “I don’t need you!” The Japanese cannot say to the Koreans, “I don’t need you!” The suburban church cannot say to the urban church, “I don’t need you!” Jews cannot say to the Palestinians, “I don’t need you!” And those born in America cannot say to recent immigrants, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker or different are not to be discarded as if they don’t matter. They are God’s special instruments of honor to reveal aspects of God that would otherwise not be seen or experienced. There really is no part of the Christian body that is to be dismissed as “unimportant”. According to God, they all matter! And if a Palestinian Christian suffers, we all suffer! If South African Christians are freed from apartheid, we all rejoice with them. Why? ...because we are all, each one of us, a part of the body of Christ! Gracists look at those different from themselves and see them as divine gifts and say to one another “I need you!”

6) THE BEAUTY OF DIVERSITY! In my life, I have been so blessed by the beauty of God’s diversity! So blessed by those who are different from myself. Recently, I look at Emil Augustine, a brother who came to us from Tanzania, and except for our love of Jesus Christ, we couldn’t be more different! We will never be mistaken for twins! But what a blessing Emil has been to me and this church! Through his eyes, through his culture, through his life experience – I have seen a side of God that would have been sadly missing if we had not met! Take for instance His emphasis on “tribe” as being the central unit of his culture, this helped me to see a refreshingly new concept of what “the church” should be! Emil’s differences are a blessed gift to me, and to this church. And when Emil, (a Gracist himself), first arrived and was alone, without a country, without a tribe, I watched the Gracists of All Saints reach out to him to lift him up. And Emil lifted us up – in prayer, and adopted us as his new family. It is the Gracists in the world that recognize the beauty of diversity. A Gracist will go to any length, and work as diligently as possible to ensure such beauty is seen and celebrated. A Gracist truly believes that everyone matters and should be included.

7) GRACIST? Let me ask you this; who have YOU intentionally reached out to lately that is distinctively different from yourself? Think about your friends, your small groups, the people you hang out with, are they all from the same class, culture, or race? Now think about Christ; if HE were to have a dinner party, or a bible study, or a church service here in Federal Way, would it look just like yours? Don’t we want to be more like Christ? Are we living our life as a Gracist? Or more like a racist? Do I segregate myself from those different than myself? Or am I an intentional bridge builder of reconciliation? Maybe you find yourself somewhere in between – not quite a racist, but not quite a Gracist either. Remember Christ hates luke-warmness, and wishes we were either hot or cold! There are still people close by who society excludes, and so the Holy Spirit is here to help us reach out to them and be inclusive. How many of us have dropped by in the evenings to welcome, meet, and love those who use our building for 12 step programs? The African bible study that meets here every week – they want to invite us to a common meal and worship experience sometime in March; I wonder how many of us will jump at the chance to be Gracists towards these brothers and sisters in Christ? I promise you, if you let the Holy Spirit lead you into embracing the call to be a Gracist, God will give you more opportunities than you can imagine to live out the Gracist lifestyle!

8) SPECIAL HONOR! As I said last week, there are seven characteristics or sayings of a Gracist, (we only have time to talk about one today). It is found in verse 23 where the Apostle Paul refers to treating others with “Special honor”. To honor someone means saying to them “I will lift you up!” And a Gracist is committed to lifting up others who differ from themselves, or who are on the fringe of society, in the minority, or in need of extra attention. Did Paul say “exclude” the weaker parts of the body? “On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor.” He’s recognizing that not everyone God loves and includes in His family is easy to notice, or shines like stars. In fact, some individuals may seem weaker or not as important because they are not as visible. And often the way we act towards them or neglect them, (intentional or not), is evidence of their near invisibility. Scripture reminds us that no one is dispensable. In fact, they are the ones we should be looking to lift up; to give special honor to!

9) SPECIAL/LIFTED UP! I read recently that at Bridgeway Community Church, they have a new ministry called “Safe Haven” that serves and lifts up children who are disabled, mentally challenged, or who fall somewhere on the autism spectrum. Because children who have special needs are also in need of special attention, the church provides this service as a ministry to parents who desire to worship in the main sanctuary with other adults. Safe Haven is not only a blessing to the parents, but it is a blessing to the kids themselves. It is a way of lifting them up – of giving them special honor. It’s a way of helping those children experience the love of Jesus in whatever manner they are able to receive it. It was not started by a committee; it was not the brainchild of the pastor. It began with one parent, a Gracist, who believed these invisible children were a full part of the body of Christ at Bridgeway, and who wanted to help these kids understand their value to the entire church family, as well as the unique contributions they could make to their church. Until that parent stepped up to the Gracism plate, those children were neglected, not lifted up, not made to feel special. The heart of a Gracist, when beating to the rhythm of God’s heart, cannot allow this - and must lift up those who are need of special attention, grace, and love!

10) YOU - INCLUDED! Am I saying ASLC needs to start a Safe Haven program? Never said that. I use that example, simply to inspire and water the seeds that God has already planted in YOUR hearts! Somewhere among YOU are developing Gracists who have been blessed to see a particular person or group that God loves but whom society has cast out, forgotten, ignored, or persecuted. And they are in need of extra attention, special honor – they need to be lifted up! But maybe YOU don’t think YOU have the resources or power or time to “make a difference”. Jesus begs to differ with YOU! If YOU will listen to His calling, and then ask – YOU shall receive! If YOU truly believe that no one is dispensable – He will show YOU how to include them! If YOU believe, as He does, that everyone who is a part of the body is necessary, He will show YOU how to lift them up! If, because Christ is living in YOUR heart, YOU believe everyone should be included in the circle of honor, regardless of class, color, culture, popularity, giftedness, or personality, then Jesus will show YOU how. And this is Paul’s point; we are to lift others up! And we who desire to be Gracists include everyone in our “circle of honor” because God in Christ included us!

11) PRAYER! One of the most important and practical ways to lift others up is through prayer! Interceding on behalf of others - who are underappreciated, undervalued, on the fringes or different – is a great way to elevate your care and concern for them. No matter who you are reaching out to, simply asking them regularly as to how you can pray for them, that’s honoring and lifting them up! Then checking in with them as to how these prayers are being answered – wow, what a ministry! Who of us are not blessed to know that someone is lifting us up in prayer?! We are all blessed by the intercession of others, but for those on the margins, for those who feel invisible, forgotten, or ignored, it feels even more rewarding to know that someone in the majority culture or a power position cares enough to be concerned with such matters! Prayer is a great way to lift others up!

12) DIGNITY – PRAYER! One other thing that will take the prayers of a Gracist to a higher level; ask the person to whom you are reaching out to pray for you! It takes you out of the superior position and places you under the grace and spiritual support of someone else who may have perceived that you are not in need of him or her but are there only to reach out. The exchange of gifts and the mutuality of lifting one another up gives dignity to human relationships! Remember when Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well? First thing He did was ask her for a drink of water. Jesus started the exchange by asking for something He needed. This was a dignifying act of grace! A lowly outsider, dealing with low self-respect, must have been amazed that a Jewish rabbi would ask her for help! Yet Jesus allowed himself to be served by her. Lifting up, in part, includes elevating others and humbling ourselves by allowing others to elevate us. You give dignity when you ask others to pray for you!

13) HONORING GOD AND OTHERS! Friends, imagine a community of God’s people who saw themselves as spiritual elevators – whose purpose to honor and lift others up, helping them to move toward their plane in life so they can fly above their circumstances! Christ is here today to show you how to be a Gracist. ..to show you how to lift others up and honor them in the body, as He has lifted up and honored you! Christ wants you to know that when you honor others, you are honoring Him! For they are a part, an important part, of His body; His family! There are too many around us that cannot, or do not know how to lift themselves up, and whose lives would be dramatically changed to run into a Gracist! ...someone who would include them, fight for them, celebrate them, and lift them up! Imagine coming to a church where people of all colors, classes, and cultures meet at the foot of the empty cross to worship and honor Christ by serving and honoring one another! Christ is here to help you imagine a church where blacks, whites, Asian and Latinos, young and old, rich and poor, Democrats and Republicans, blue and white collars all converge in one place. Imagine an inclusive church where the “elevators” that lift others up get crowded! Where the whole people of God are busy worshipping and honoring God by lifting up and honoring one another! Praise God, AMEN

Confessional Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, we confess that too often we concern ourselves with “being included” but not about “including others”. Especially those so different than ourselves. There are people around us that have remained invisible to us, and we treated them as if they don’t matter! But they matter to you – and so we ask for your forgiveness and pray that you will open our eyes and empower our hearts so that we may become spiritual elevators – lifting up those who need extra grace and love!

Lord, we confess that we have not always celebrated diversity! There is comfort in “birds of a feather – flocking together” but we have missed out seeing you through the eyes of those who differ from ourselves. Somewhere in each heart here today, you have planted a seed that calls us to reach out to some part of your body (a person or group) that is in need of special help, attention, or honor. Help that seed of ministry surface, and empower it to grow – so that we may worship and honor you by lifting up and honoring others in your name!

And now, although you know us better than we know ourselves, listen as we share in a moment of silence, those other parts of our lives that need to be forgiven, washed clean, and made anew.

(Silence)

Lord, you chose to look past our weaknesses and our brokenness to graciously include us in your blessed family! As you honored and lifted us up – so too now empower us to do the same for all people! Walk with us this week, and lead us into relationships that celebrate your amazing diversity! AMEN

Assurance of Forgiveness:

Friends, listen to the good news: the Lord who is a Gracist elevator desiring always to lift you up, …that Lord has heard your confession and lovingly forgives you all your sins. Go, and let Him empower you to become a Gracist elevator too! Meet, love, and lift up all those that matter to God! AMEN

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